Keep up with friends using instant messaging

Signing up
In order to communicate at all you will need an account with at least one of the networks. In other words, you’ll need to register for a free instant-messenger account with, for instance, Microsoft, AOL or Yahoo before you can transfer allegiance to a cross-network application.

As Microsoft’s Messenger program is built into Windows, it is convenient.

Be warned, though, that Microsoft has reinvented and rebranded the program so many times that the version on your PC could be called MSN Messenger, Windows Messenger or Windows Live Messenger.

So, to begin, click Start followed by All Programs and look for an entry matching one of these names. Vista users may see an entry for Windows Live Messenger Download.

Click it to open the download area on the Windows Live Messenger web page, and then follow the instructions to download and install the program.

When you first start Messenger, it will ask you to register for a Windows Live ID. It’s possible that you already have one of these, if you’ve previously signed up for any Microsoft Passport service, such as Hotmail (because Passport is now called Windows Live ID).

So, if you have a Hotmail account, try using it to sign in to whatever version of Messenger you find on your PC. If not, follow Messenger’s prompts to do so and when this is done, exit Messenger.

Cross talk
If you are only ever likely to communicate with a handful of friends or family members, and they all use the same instant-messaging program, then any one of the major instant-messaging networks will be fine.

As you will probably already have access to some variant of Microsoft’s Messenger, then try it for size.

However, should you decide to venture out into the wider world of instant messaging you will quickly realise how restrictive the single-network IM tools can be.

If you are using Windows Live Messenger, for example, you cannot talk to a friend who uses AOL Instant Messenger.

At this point, you can turn to one of the cross-network IM programs or websites. You will still need to create accounts with the other networks to chat to connected users but you will be able chat with Yahoo, AOL and Microsoft/MSN natterers from one place.

Several websites provide this ability without the need to install anything on your PC, and you may find this a good compromise. Meebo.com, for instance, allows you to log in to an MSN, Yahoo, AIM or Myspace, Google (GTalk) and ICQ accounts and chat in a web browser window.

Alternatively, register for a Meebo account and then just use one username and password to log in to all your accounts at once. Ebuddy is another very similar site.